Critic Reviews

I’ve taken quite a lot of phone calls asking about Megadrive wrestling games over the last few months, but I reckon I can relax a bit now, because although this isn’t actually a WWF game it should be good enough to keep most wrestling fans happy! The fighter graphics are really great – certainly the best I’ve seen on any wrestling game outside of an arcade – and he animation is spectacularly dynamic. There is quite a bit of skill involved in the gameplay, and though the control system will more than likely break either your wrist or your joypad, it all adds to the frantic fun. Definitely the champion Megadrive tussling game.

Wrestle War is fast and playable, and there is some real skill required, if you're going to trash the whole bunch of computer fighters. What really makes this game are the big wrestler sprites, whose movements and facial expressions are superbly animated. Not only does it look good, all the grimaces and popping eyeballs are added too by sampled groans and "oof!" sounds, making it one of the most satisfying beat 'em ups you could hope to play outside of an arcade.

Wrestle War allows for a one player or a two player experience. Family members can work together to try and learn the controls in Wrestle War. I actually recommend that, especially when there is no manual included with many retro games. If you like wrestling games and can handle some of the issues then you should enjoy Wrestle War.

To wrap things up, I can't speak to Wrestle War's faithfulness to its arcade brethren, for not only have I never played it in the arcade, but I can't even recall once even seeing a Wrestle War arcade machine, and I was THE arcade rat when I was a kid growing up in the late '80s/early '90s. Regardless of that, I cannot stress enough the vital importance of avoiding Wrestle War if you ever come across it for whatever reason. No matter how cheap you may find it, no matter if you can play the import cart with ease, no matter how much you love vintage pro wrestling video games; avoid Wrestle War at all costs. Trust me, you'll be glad that you did.